Oregon War Veterans Association (OWVA) in conjunction with KATU, Channel 2 TV raised all of the money needed to bring the stranded National Guard Troops home for the holidays on Thursday, December 10, 2009.
Nearly one thousand people called into the KATU broadcast station during the OWVA “Save Christmas/Airlift” telethon Thursday helping OWVA to raise more than $61,000.00. The funds were raised to purchase plane tickets for 105 stranded Oregon National Guard (ORNG) Troops, whose deployment to Afghanistan was delayed during the Holidays. The delay allowed the troops to come home for Christmas, but there was no plan or money to transport them from Wisconsin, where they were temporarily stationed, to Portland, and back. All of the troops will now be home for Christmas- with elated family members.
The $20,000.00 over the amount actually needed for the Airlift Project will be used to send 35 disabled ORNG troops and a family member to the Paralympics in Vancouver, BC next year.
OWVA raised nearly $20,000 within the first two hours of the telethon. KATU’s Carolyn Morgan told volunteers that<’we have never seen such a tremendous response for any other cause. This is very exciting.” Anna Song, KATU reporter who was first to carry the story to the public came in during the telethon and was amazed at the level of support. She told the volunteers that she was “blessed” to be part of the solution, and was inspired by the generosity of the donors.
The effort began when Greg Warnock, the director of OWVA was called by Brigadier General (BG) Caldwell, the Deputy Director of the ORNG, one week ago. General Caldwell started the phone conversation with the words, “Greg, have I got a deal for you.” Warnock immediately knew that a daunting challenge was about to be proposed. Warnock has received several phone calls like that one, since OWVA’s inception in 2002.
During the telethon OWVA’s director told KATU viewers that, “I am humbled to be involved with projects like these- to be part of the solution of such overwhelming problems. Watching the generosity of Oregonians from all over the State affirms my belief that people really want to help our troops, and when they become aware of how to help their momentum is amazing.” Warnock added, “Being a seasoned charity that has a great reputation of getting the job done makes a difference, I think, on how generous people are with us.”
“Oregonians deserve a great big hug for the holidays!” one of the spouses of the stranded troops told Warnock and his volunteers on Thursday. OWVA agrees.
In an email on Friday, BG Caldwell wrote to Warnock, saying, “Great job on the Telethon, Greg. What a tremendous success! You are a real Hero!!!” Warnock and the volunteers at OWVA take it in stride, and don’t consider themselves heroes, but do understand the importance of their work.
What’s next? OWVA knows that there will be many more causes which need public attention and support, and plan to be involved as much as possible. Donations are still being taken online for OWVA’s other charitable projects. They are also trying to raise $30,000 for the OWVA/ORG emergency fund, which helps individual families who have no other resources for things like food, housing, utility payments and emergency transportation.
To make a generous donation to OWVA’s charitable projects, donors can make tax deductible contributions in the following three ways:
1. Online with a credit card of check card to http://www.owva.org/donate
2. Direct deposit to ANY US Bank branch to the Oregon War Veterans Association/ORNG (account ending in #5051)
3. Mail a check to PO Box 8043, Salem, OR 97303
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